Summary
Roguelikes are known for focusing onfreedom in playstyle, with many traditional roguelikes concentrating almost entirely on constructing an efficient build. Many modern roguelikes, such asNuclear Throne, use a selection of playable characters to cater to different playstyles.
The roguelike genre can be defined by turn-based combat, procedural generation, and permanent death. However, in the interest of diversity, action roguelikes and games with roguelite elements have also been considered.
Dicey Dungeonsisa roguelike dungeon-crawlerwith a unique, dice-based combat system that balances luck with strategy. The game’s unique equipment system has players building a tableau to use their various dice to defeat a diverse ensemble of enemies. This equipment system allows for a great deal of freedom, but it’s the game’s playable characters that bring the most diversity.
Every playable character inDicey Dungeonsbrings their unique strengths to the table, allowing each of them to feel dramatically different from one another. Thanks to unique starting equipment and abilities, each of the six unique classes can encourage different playstyles. This ensures players are given the freedom to play how they want, right from the start of a run.
Slice & Diceis a dice-based roguelike with a simple structure and accessible gameplay mechanics, but its variety of classes, dice, and abilities allow for several playstyles. In the game, playerscontrol a partyof five adventurers, battling all kinds of dangerous enemies by rolling and assigning a variety of unique dice to each character.
This system may appear simple on the surface, but the game’s incredibly diverse ensemble of 128 classes allows for many strategies. Furthermore, players are always given a choice when changing a character’s class, allowing them to build a squad that suits their preferences. In addition,Slice & Diceallows players to customize the dice of each character with unique equipment, allowing for even more control.
A straightforwardroguelike deck-builder,Slay The Spireis able to provide accessibility and complex strategies in equal measure. With its massive variety of cards, relics, and consumables,Slay The Spireoffers players a great deal of freedom when deciding on a strategy.
Most notably, the variety of playable characters, each with their unique decks, gives players immediate control over their playstyle. The game’s cards are designed in such a way as to encourage particular builds, but there’s just enough room for experimentation. Combined with the often game-changing items that players can acquire,Slay The Spireis a particularly freeing roguelike.
Into The Breachis a remarkably fair roguelike tactics game with an elegant design that blends turn-based combat with puzzle game elements. In the game, playerscontrol a squad of mechs, defending civilians from an alien invasion.
The pure tactics focus ofInto The Breachgives players little direction on how to play, allowing them to develop their style naturally. However, the game also features a variety of starting squads that can be unlocked over time, giving players immediate control over their playstyle.
Ravenswatchisa stylish action roguelikebuilt around satisfying real-time combat, a dramatic sense of urgency, and an ensemble of unique playable characters. The game’s stylish graphics and dark fairy tale theme allow it to stand out, but it’s the diversity of its playable characters and the multitude of viable strategies available that drive the experience.
From Beowulf with his sword-and-board style and fiery abilities, to Scarlet and her night shifts as a werewolf, there’s something for all kinds of players. Alternate ultimate abilities and deep control over traits and upgrades as players progress also ensure they’re frequently able to exercise agency over their strategy.
Roguelike deck-builders inherently offer a great deal of freedom. The act of deck-building naturally gives players a great deal of agency, butWildfrostelevates this further by providing players with satisfying power spikes between battles. After every battle,Wildfrostpresents players with two paths, each packed with rewards. These can vary from new spell cards or shops to a new companion or charm.
The sheer variety of spells, companions, charms, and passive upgrades allows players to have deep control over their strategy. However, this is only so becauseWildfrostalways ensures players have multiple choices. What’s more,Wildfrostgives fans immediate control over their style of play with a variety of unique factions and a selection of starting companions.
Theimmersive-sim genre, which covers everything from titles such asDeus ExandThief: The Dark Project, to more recent titles such asDishonoredandGloomwood, is known for its championing of player agency. It’s no surprise, then, thatStreets of Rogue, which combines the hallmarks of this genre with a roguelike structure, offers a great deal of freedom.
First and foremost is the diverse ensemble of playable characters, each of which offers its unique mission, statistics, traits, and starting equipment. Rather than providing players with a steady flow of combat encounters,Streets of Roguecomprises several sandbox-style levels with their own missions, each of which can be completed in a variety of ways. This allows fans to play however they want, using the resources they have in creative ways to progress.
There are roguelite elements in this action roguelike, but none that directly influence the player’s power. This title has been included due to the sheer amount of freedom it affords its players.
There are many strengths to this roguelike RPG, be it the exotic open-world, evocative writing, or the atmospheric soundtrack. However,Caves Of Qud’s greatest strength is arguably its intricate character creator, which gives players the freedom to create all manner of adventurers. Be it a strange and powerful Mutant or a cybernetic True Kin,Caves Of Qudgives players immediate control over their build.
This is furthered by deep control over starting stats and a variety of classes to choose from. Playing as a mutant, in particular, allows players to choose from over 70 unique mutations, each of which vary wildly from one another. This player agency extends to the game itself, too, where players have a tremendous variety of skills to choose from as they level up. Furthermore, the title’s vast array of equipment contains a great many game-changing items that can have a monumental impact on playstyle.
